vilifying 1 of 3

noun

as in libel
the making of false statements that damage another's reputation the nonstop vilifying had the effect of making some people sympathetic to the victim

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vilifying

2 of 3

adjective

as in insulting

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vilifying

3 of 3

verb

present participle of vilify
as in libeling
to make untrue and harmful statements about claimed that she had been vilified by the press because of her conservative views

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vilifying
Verb
Both factors have spent much of 2026 vilifying Volpe’s play, particularly on defense. — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 By vilifying others, Marx could use moral superiority to legally steal from those who had more. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026 Judge Salas told us vilifying judges is eroding trust in the courts. — Heather Abbott, CBS News, 7 June 2026 This riveting two-part docuseries preceded the fictional take seen in The Girl From Plainville, taking an unprejudiced and empathetic approach when exploring the complex case, presenting all the facts without vilifying one individual. — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026 Facebook ads vilifying or praising various measures. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 These efforts apparently relied on a mix of sock-puppet accounts across social media platforms, which promoted the spurious claims of vilifying websites. — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 Southern Poverty Law Center has determined RAIR Foundation is an anti-Muslim hate group promoting conspiracy theories and vilifying American Muslim communities. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2026 Orbán began vilifying the EU, often comparing Brussels to the Soviet Union, even while receiving huge amounts of EU money and resisting pressure to reverse democratic backsliding. — Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vilifying
  1. libel
  2. insulting
  3. smearing
  4. defamation
  5. demeaning
  6. maligning
  7. vilification
  8. disparaging
Noun
  • In response, Baldoni — and nine other plaintiffs, including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel — sued the newspaper for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other claims, over the article, and sought $250 million in damages.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
  • Wayfarer has since pushed back against Lively's request for $8 million in legal fees over Wayfarer's libel suit.
    — KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of libel
Adjective
  • The target of the anger and scorn in all the insulting posters, slogans, and graffiti of the protest zone was not the education minister but Modi himself.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The big reveal that Rey was really the still-not-dead Emperor’s grand-daughter was incoherent and kind of insulting.
    — Adam Frank, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of insulting
Verb
  • At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
    — Paola Miglio, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
  • This will lead to smearing dust particles around instead of picking them up, which is where a wet cloth comes into play.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
Definition of smearing
Noun
  • Exasperated, the Justice Department filed a formal discrimination suit, whereupon Cohn countersued the government for defamation, seeking a hundred million dollars in damages.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Miller, who is running for reelection, has denied the allegations and has sued his ex-wife for defamation.
    — Diana Paulsen, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of defamation
Adjective
  • No ask is too demeaning, no self-sabotaging client too difficult.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 29 July 2026
  • Some wives and girlfriends balk at the label, calling it demeaning shorthand that gives short shrift to a woman’s own worth.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
Definition of demeaning
Verb
  • Policymakers defend draconian cuts to Medicaid by maligning the work ethic or honesty of low-income women, despite substantial evidence to the contrary.
    — Jocelyn Frye, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026
  • Underneath it, the authors of the flyer listed a few dubious talking points maligning immigrants.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of maligning
Noun
  • His one talent was his ability to foresee that the vilification of ambitious and successful people might lead to the political mass resentment and hatred for such individuals.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026
  • As vilification of the Founders and the Revolution became more common, both in academia and in society at large, Wood functioned as part elder statesman and part lightning rod.
    — Craig Bruce Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Definition of vilification
Adjective
  • Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
    — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparaging

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Cite this Entry

“Vilifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vilifying. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vilifying

Nglish: Translation of vilifying for Spanish Speakers

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